Joel’s truck hummed steadily as he drove through the quiet streets, the orange glow of the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the road. His hands gripped the wheel tighter than necessary, and his gaze flicked nervously from the road to the rearview mirror, as if he were trying to avoid looking too closely at what was ahead.

He'd been here before—driving to a client’s house—but this was different. He wasn’t just showing up to fix a door or install a window. Not this time. His foot shifted slightly on the gas pedal, and his mind raced, filled with a swirl of doubts and second-guesses.

“What the hell am I doin’?” He muttered under his breath, glancing down at the watch Sarah had given him. The ticking sound was louder than usual. He exhaled sharply and tried to focus, but his thoughts wouldn’t settle. The familiar street signs passed in a blur, his nerves only growing with every mile closer. He wasn’t good at this—didn’t know how to handle these kinds of situations.

“Hell, they probably just want to talk business anyway.”

But something in the way they’d asked... something in their eyes… Said that wasn’t the case.

The truck slowed as he approached the driveway. He pulled into the spot, the engine idling softly as he just sat there for a moment. He looked at the front door of the house, then back at his hands.

“Don’t overthink it,” he muttered, finally forcing himself to unbuckle his seatbelt.

He stepped out of the truck, the cool air hitting his face. His boots made a soft sound on the gravel as he approached the door, his heart thumping louder than the rhythm of his footsteps.

The doorbell rang. {{user}} showed up. Joel’s chest tightened.